Apparatus and process for peeling logs



June i3, i967 u. s. MCCRANIE 3,324,909

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR PEELNG LOGS Filed Feb. L1, 1965 2 Sheets-SheetBY a (7 la., f., L Hw( ATTORNEYS june M, W6? u. S. MccRANaE 3,324,909

APPARATUS ND PROCESS FOI( FEELING LOGS Filed Feb. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-SheetL? INVENTOR [il S. M'S CWA /V/E nited States Patent O 3,324,909APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR PEELING LOGS Ulysses Shasta McCranie,Willacoochee, Ga. 31650 Filed Feb. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 430,134 9 Claims.(Cl. 14d-326) This invention relates to the processing of wood productsand more particularly to the peeling of logs which are intended for useas poles for various purposes. The invention relates more particularlyto the peeling of logs and the production of useful wood particles orchips formed as a by-product of such log peeling.

Heretofore, in the process of log peeling, relatively long sheets orsticks of material, e.g. 2"-8", have been removed from the outer surfaceof the log, and such has been of little value. -In -accordance with thepresent invention, the material of the outer layer of wood removed fromthe log is in the form of chips which are useful for various purposes,including for pulp in the paper-making industry.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention t0 provide logpeeling apparatus and procedures by means of which logs may be peeledand in which the removed material is in the form of useful chips.

These and other objects of the invention will be further described inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary sectional view of a cutter head embodying thepresent invention and indicating its use in association with the log andthe log supporting and feeding means;

FIG. 2, an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4, a fragmentary perspective of an end of a planer knife inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 5, a view similar to FIG. 4 of a modified planer knife;

FIG. 6, la plan view illustrating the tooth form of the planer knife ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7, a fragmentary perspective illustrating the cutting action of theknife and associated blade;

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, enlarged fragmentary sections illustrating thecutting action; and

FIG. 11, a perspective to an enlarged scale of a typical chip.

Briefly stated, the present invention includes the provision of a planerknife having spaced teeth in combination with a blade adjacent theretowhich cooperate to remove the outer layer from a log lin the form ofchips which are useful in the pulp industry. The method includes theremoval of the outer layer from a log by cutting actions fwhichsubstantially simultaneously slice said outer layer and subdivide itinto chips.

The log peeler with which the present invention is used may be of thetype described in the patent to Efurd et al. 2,671,480 dated Mar. 9,1954. In that patent, however, the apparatus is described as removingthe bark from a log. Prior to peeling the log in accordance with thepresent invention, the log is rst debarked. Such debarking may be doneby various machines well known in the trade such as that produced bySoderhamn Machine Manufacturing Company of Talladega, Ala.

With further reference to the drawings, there is illustrated anarrangement including a log 10 supported on bull wheels 11 and 12beneath a cutter head 13. The general arrangement is well known in theart and is of the type described in Patent 2,671,480 to Efurd et al.Instead of the cutters engaging substantially the highest point of thelog as shown in that patent, the cutters are arranged to cut at aposition angularly disposed (e.g. angle a in FIG. 1 may be approximately30-45) from the highest point ICC of the Ilog `as indicated in IFIG. 1.This offsetting positioning of the cutter from the top of the logresults in a combined simultaneous cutting action which will bedescribed hereafter.

The bull wheels 11 and 12 are driven to rotate the log 10 and at thesame time to cause it to move axially. The cutter head V13 is mounted onarm 14 which is movably mounted to permit the cutter head to ride on thelog on a support member 15.

The cutter head is mounted on a shaft 16 which is driven by a 'belt 17or other suitable means through a sheave (not shown).

The -cutter head has mounted therein a plurality of knives 20 which areat and have a beveled edge 21. Next to the slicing knives 2G planerknives 22 in accordance with the present invention are mounted. Suchplaner knives have -a bar portion 23 and a plurality of spacedupstanding teeth 24. The knife 22 may be separate from or integral withthe `flat knife 20. The teeth 24 have cutting edges 25 which initiallyengage the log just .ahead of the straight edges 21 of the knife 20.

As indicated in FIGS. 7 to 10, the leading edges of the teeth 24ordinarily contact the log prior to its engagement by the flat knife 20.However, due to the engagement of the log on its side portion, theelongated edge of knife 20 engages the log while the teeth 24 are stillperforming a cutting action on a localized area of wood. It isunderstood that the speed of rotation of thecutter head is much fasterthan that of the log, as is well known in the art. Hence the combinedaction as indicated in FIGS. 7 to 10 results in a simultaneous cuttingby the teeth and by the edge of the knife 2t) in order to remove chipssuch as indicated in FIG. l1.

These chips are of uniform length in the direction of their grain,corresponding to the spacing between the adjacent edges 25 of the teethof knife 22. The knife 22 may be Selected with teeth spaced at desireddistances from each other in order to produce chips of a predeterminedlength.

In order to mount the knife 22 ya plurality of set screws 30 areprovided which are threaded into the side of the knife and are backedoff with the knife in proper position in order that the screws maytightly engage the face 31 of the cutter head. In order to furthersecure the knife 22 in place and to maintain its precise position withrespect to the knife 20, a plurality of set screws 33 are threaded intothe knife 22 through bores 34 whose direction is substantiallyperpendicular to the bores receiving the set screws 30. The set screws33 permit tine adjustment of the tips of the teeth with respect to theknife 20 as indicated in FIG. 3. It has been found that a preferredarrangement is that the tips of the teeth project beyond the edge of theknife 20` approximately 132 of an inch.

In FIGS. 5 `and 6 a form of teeth is indicated in which the leading edgeis reduced to a sharp edge, the plan view of FIG. 6 indicating that theteeth are substantially V- shaped. Such shape may be preferred in somesituations in order to promote the combined cutting action and to reducethe amount of fines.

While knives having particular shapes have been described, variousconiigurations may be employed within the scope of the presentinvention. Itis furthermore contemplated that the knives 20 and 22 maybe integral instead of separate as shown in the drawings. The cutterhead, itself, may have integral therewith either or both of the knives20 and 22.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may bemade in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, but onlyas indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a log peeler having means for supporting a log substantiallyhorizontally and for rotating said log and moving it axially, a rotarycutter head mounted to engage the outer periphery of the log in order toremove a layer therefrom, said rotary cutter having a plurality ofelongated blades mounted to -rotate about an axis substantially parallelto the log, a planer knife mounted on the face of said blades, saidplaner knife having upstanding teeth Whose tips extend radiallysubstantially the same distance as the cutting edge of the blade,whereby a layer of wood removed from the outside of said log will besubdivided into chips by the action of said upstanding teeth and saidelongated blade, said cutter head being mounted so that the blades andplaner knife engage the log at a position substantially spaced from thehigh portion of the log, whereby the teeth of said planer knife and theedges of said blades perform a substantially simultaneous cuttingaction.

2. The invention of claim 1, in which the teeth of the planer knifeextend approximately 1/32 of an inch beyond the cutting edge of theblade.

3. The invention of claim 1, in which the teeth have a reduced leadingedge, such teeth being V-shaped in plan.

4. A rotary cutter head for peeling logs when mounted to rotate about anaxis substantially parallel to a log to be peeled, said cutter headhaving an elongated log peeling blade and planer knife means mountedalong the face of said blade, said planer knife means having spacedoutwardly extending chip cutting teeth the tips of which extend radiallyof said head substantially the same distance as the cutting edge of saidblade, the leading edge of said teeth being of a construction andarrangement to engage a log in advance of said cutting edge of saidblade, thereby cutting the log circumferentialdly ahead of the peelingaction.

5. A log peeler rotary cutter head having an aixs of rotation, at leastone recess spaced about said axis in the periphery of said head, apeeling knife combination held in said recess, said knife combinationhaving a peeling blade portion backed by a wall of said recess on oneside thereof and having a planing blade portion on another side thereof,said peeling blade portion having a cutting edge extending generallyaxially of said head, said planing blade portion having ya series ofteeth portions having cutting edges extending beyond the peeling bladeand transaxially of said head and generally normal to the face of thepeeling blade portion.

6. A cutter head according to claim 5 wherein said blade portions areseparable units.

7. A cutter head according to claim 5 wherein said teeth have convergingside portions that form knife edges that lead said planing edges in thedirection of rotation of the said cutter.

8. In a -rnethod of peeling logs and producing chips having a uniformgrain length as a byproduct of said peeling, comprising mounting a logfor rotary and axial movement in predetermined directions, mounting acutter member for rotary movement adjacent said log in such a mannerthat axial and transaxial cutting edges of said cutting member willengage a portion of the said log at ya position 30-45 removed about theperiphery of the said log from the high point of the log peripheryadjacent the said cutter thereby simultaneously to score portions ofpredetermined length of the outer layer of wood of the log and peel outsaid scored portions while said log is rotated and axially fed past saidrotary cutter engaged with the outer layer of said log.

9. In a log peeler having means yfor supporting a log substantiallyhorizontally and for rotating said log and moving it axially, a rotarycutter head for peeling logs and producing chips having a uniform grainlength as a byproduct of said peeling, said rotary cutter head beingmounted to rotate and to engage the outer periphery of the log in orderto remove a layer therefrom, said rotary cutter having a plurality ofelongated blades mounted to rotate about an axis substantially parallelto the log, a planer knife mounted on the face of said blades, saidplaner knife having spaced generally parallel upstanding teeth whosetips extend radially and transaxially substantially the same distance asthe cutting edge of the blade, whereby the axial and transaxial cuttingedges of said blades and planer knife will engage a portion of said logat a position 30-45 removed about the periphery of said log from thehigh point of such periphery adjacent the said cutter thereby tosimultaneously score portions of predetermined length and a layer ofwood removed from the outside of said log will be subdivided into chipsby the action of said upstanding teeth and said elongated blade.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,861,787 6/1932 Buchan 144-2302,449,605 9/ 1948 Kelton 144-230 2,671,480 3/1954 Efurd et al 144-208'2,825,371 3/1958 Forman 144-172 X 2,889,861 6/1959 Kolirnbat 144-230 X3,017,912 1/1962 Sybertz et al. 144-230 WILLIAM W. DYER, I R., PrimaryExaminer.

W. D. BRAY, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A LOG PEELER HAVING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A LOG SUBSTANTIALLYHORIZONTALLY AND FOR ROTATING SAID LOG AND MOVING IT AXIALLY, A ROTARYCUTTER HEAD MOUNTED TO ENGAGE THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE LOG IN ORDER TOREMOVE A LAYER THEREFROM, SAID ROTARY CUTTER HAVING A PLURALITY OFELONGATED BLADES MOUNTED TO ROTATE ABOUT AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELTO THE LOG, A PLANER KNIFE MOUNTED ON THE FACE OF SAID BLADES, SAIDPLANER KNIFE HAVING UPSTANDING TEETH WHOSE TIPS EXTEND RADIALLYSUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DISTANCE AS THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE BLADE,WHEREBY A LAYER OF WOOD REMOVED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF SAID LOG WILL BESUBDIVIDED INTO CHIPS BY THE ACTION OF SAID UPSTANDING TEETH AND SAIDELONGATED BLADE, SAID CUTTER HEAD BEING MOUNTED SO THAT THE BLADES ANDPLANER KNIFE ENGAGE THE LOG AT A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY SPACED FROM THEHIGH PORTION OF THE LOG, WHEREBY THE TEETH OF SAID PLANER KNIFE AND THEEDGES OF SAID BLADES PERFORM A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMULTANEOUS CUTTINGACTION.